Well, I don’t know if I’d still say SJS was quite hot, but I’d say she certainly hasn’t fallen as far as some of the other former companions (or Doctors (see Colin Baker as an example)).
I’ve not seen Colin Baker lately, but Tom Baker is looking rather worse for wear. Of course, I believe he was in his 40s during his run, so he’d be in his seventies now.
No, she had actually gathered up her things when the Doctor told her she had to leave. The Doctor had not listened to her tirade about leaving, but she had left the console room to pack when the call came from Gallifrey.
Would she have stayed if the Doctor has asked her? Possible. This could have been a temporary tiff. But, at the moment, Sarah Jane clearly wanted out, even if the Doctor took her home for other reasons.
One thing I also loved about the episode was that it was probably the first that began with the Doctor in the middle of things. Usually, they start with him showing up, discovering something mysterious, and going on from there. This time, all that setup was left out; the Doctor was already undercover in the school, and they backfilled the story from there. It was a wise decision: episodes of the current series are short, so by doing it that way, they can be compressed.
Correct me if I mis-remembered:
(about seeing K-9 for the first time)
Rose: [something]
someone (either Sarah or the Doctor): [something]
Rose: But why does he look so disco?
This was my favorite line.
I just watched my tape of this episode last night and I LOVED it. Of course, Sarah Jane was always one of my favorite companions anyway, so to see her again* was like a song. And the look on the Doctor’s face when he first saw her – priceless. Awwww.
I’d heard about “The Sarah Jane Adventures” somewhere, so I figured this episode was sort of a tie-in to that.
All nicely done.
*and I agree, she looks pretty good, even though they kept lighting her with blue or green light from below – not the best way to photography anyone.
I dont think so. A 13 yr old girl companion eliminates the constant sexual tension.
[paraphrasing]
Sarah: What do you do?
Mickey: Me? I’m the man with the plan, I’m the… the… oh damn, I’m the Tin Dog?!
Anyone have a better recollection of the dialogue? I thought that was priceless.
I just hope that the new Doctor Who franchise doesn’t devolve into overkill as did the “Star Trek: the Next Generation” series. Certainly the actress Liz Sladen and character Sarah-Jane Smith are strong enough to hold down a series, but what with “Torchwood” and a possible K-9 series as well, It could be a fast track into “Voyager” territory.
It was great to see Sarah again. I just thought the argument between Sarah & Rose needed one extra line, when they were bragging about the things they each saw:
Sarah: THE Loch Ness Monster!
Rose: Wow…really?
Sarah (should have said): Well…up close it wasn’t that impressive looking.
I also thought it’d been nice for Sarah to make mention of Harry Sullivan - who shared a few adventures with the Doctor & Sarah, and whom Mickey more closely resembled (in personality at any rate) than K-9.
So, who do you think is next to make a return visit to the new series? I’ve read that…
the Cybermen become the Big Bad heavies later in this season. Who else would you like to see return? I’d like to know if UNIT were still around in any capacity. And the Master simply has to return sometime. Personally, I’d like to see Tegan again. And Romana - who theoretically could have escaped the extinction of the Time Lord race by benefit of being in e-space when the ‘time war’ took place - could come back, even if it’s another incarnation.
God, please, no. 
Just wait till next week. 
IIRC UNIT were briefly mentioned in “Aliens of London” last series; the Doctor recognized some of them arriving at 10 Downing Street, calling them “good people”. Of course they then got zapped with all the other alien experts, but presumably the outfit could be restaffed (and presumably they didn’t all go to Number 10 in the first place).
As for the Master and Romana, I think it’s as well established as anything ever is established on this show that there aren’t any other living Gallifreyans out there. Time Lords are psychic, and the Doctor said at the end of “Dalek” that he could no longer sense the presence of any of his people, anywhere.
Janet Fielding, who played Tegan, refused for years to have anything to do with the show; but I see from the Big Finish web site that she was persuaded to come back to make a Doctor Who audio drama, so perhaps we can hope.
…which is bad, how? I loved Voyager! AND Enterprise! So there! 
Cool, good find, here’s hoping we get to see it.
Thanks for that. Great way to put it.
I wouldn’t say hot, but remarkably good looking for someone very near 60.
The show had some good quotes. Here are some from IMDB quotes page.
*Mickey Smith: Me… I’m their man in Havana! I’m the technical support. I’m the… Oh my God… I’m the tin dog! *
I liked this one also:
The Doctor: Correct-o-mundo! There’s a word I’ve never used before, and hopefully never will again.
along with the Mickey and K9 exchange about using the car to get in to the school.
A good fun episode, I enjoyed it. Sarah was my second favorite companion when I was a kid. I only liked Leela more. Ironic her last gig was on a show called the “Doctors”.
Jim
What K-9 series are you talking about? I know they tried for one in the early 80’s tenatively called “K-9 and Company” but it never got past the pilot. I can’t imagine that they would try to have both a K-9 series and a Sarah Jane series since the two are together. Unless of course the mean to bring back Leela with whom the first K-9 stayed when she left the Doctor to stay on some planet and make the series be about them.
Have you forgotten Rose, the first of the new Doctor Who episodes? Things were well under way when the episode began.
A new K9 series is indeed being planned. See here.
Will this series suck?
“Affirmative!”
Yes, this series will indeed suck! I cannot believe they are going to attempt it. Bleah!